Fixing energy, infrastructure and trade key to Africa’s industrial growth – Gyan-Mensah

Africa must urgently harmonise its energy systems, infrastructure development and trade policies to drive industrial growth and enhance competitiveness, Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, has said.

Speaking at the Roundtable on Energy, Infrastructure and Trade Connectivity at the Africa Trade Summit 2026, on behalf of the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, Mr Gyan-Mensah noted that Africa’s industrial progress is constrained less by a lack of ideas or talent and more by fragmented and poorly coordinated systems.

He explained that successful industrial economies are anchored on three core pillars—reliable energy supply, resilient infrastructure and efficient trade systems—and warned that when these elements are misaligned, economic growth is inevitably stifled.

Although Africa has recorded notable infrastructure investments in recent years, the deputy minister said persistent structural gaps remain due to weak coordination. Energy policy, infrastructure expansion and trade facilitation, he observed, have often been pursued in isolation, leading to high production costs, logistical inefficiencies and reduced trade competitiveness.

Energy, he stressed, lies at the heart of the continent’s industrial challenge. While industrial activity consumes up to 50 per cent of electricity in developed economies, it accounts for less than 20 per cent in many African countries, largely because of unreliable and expensive power supply. He added that high tariffs and frequent outages continue to erode manufacturing capacity and deter investors.

Highlighting Ghana’s experience, Mr Gyan-Mensah pointed to recent reforms, including the clearance of about US$1.47 billion in legacy energy sector debt, which has helped stabilise electricity supply and rebuild investor confidence. He described the country’s gas-to-power strategy as a practical and realistic transition pathway.

The deputy minister also underscored the need to strengthen regional power pools, trade corridors, customs reforms and digital systems, noting that infrastructure only delivers real value when goods and services can move smoothly across borders.

He called for stronger regional coordination, infrastructure diplomacy and innovative financing solutions, stressing that Africa requires between US$130 billion and US$170 billion annually to bridge its infrastructure deficit.

Mr Gyan-Mensah concluded by urging stakeholders to move beyond discussions to concrete action, emphasising that Africa’s industrial future depends on the effective integration of energy, infrastructure and trade systems.